Dr. John began making his own idiosyncratic music in the 1960s. Along with Professor Longhair, Dr. John is heir to the rich New Orleans tradition. He is perhaps best known for "Right Place, Wrong Time", an international hit in 1973, reissued and used on soundtracks many times since.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, his professional musical career began as a session musician in New Orleans in the 1950s. Early on he also played guitar and was often known as Mac Rebennack. He switched to the bass ("the lowest time of my life"), and then the piano after his index finger was nearly shot off protecting his bandmate and longtime friend Ronnie Barron. He gained fame beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with music that combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress. For a time he was billed as Dr. John, The Night Tripper. The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century.
Dr. John has also done vocals for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' "Luv dat chicken..." jingle, as well as the theme song ("My Opinionation") for the early-1990s television sitcom Blossom. His movie credits include Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz (in which he joins The Band for a performance of his song "Such a Night") and Blues Brothers 2000 (in which he joins the fictional band The Louisiana Gator Boys to perform the song "New Orleans"). In the 2009 Disney film The Princess and the Frog, Dr. John sings the opening tune, "Down in New Orleans".
In January 2008 Mac Rebennack, Dr. John, was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
Yesterday
Dr. John Lyrics
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Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
Now I need a place to hide away.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
The lyrics of Dr. John's song Yesterday describe a moment of nostalgia and longing for the past. The singer remembers a time when his troubles were far away and love was simple, but now he feels a weight on his shoulders and a void in his heart. He sings about a sudden change that shook his world, represented by the departure of someone he loved. He acknowledges his own faults in the situation, admitting that he said something wrong, but still wishes he could turn back time to relive the happier days. The repetition of the phrase "Oh, I believe in yesterday" emphasizes the singer's desire to hold on to the memories of his past and the hope that he can somehow recapture the happiness he once felt.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
At some point in the past, my problems were not as close and troubling as they are now.
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Currently, it seems like my troubles will continue to be present in my life.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
I have faith in the past when things seemed better and less problematic.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
Unexpectedly, I feel like I've lost a major part of myself.
There's a shadow hanging over me.
There's a dark, ominous feeling that follows me around.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
The past, which was once distant, came back to me abruptly and without warning.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I am unsure why someone (likely a past love interest) left me, and they never explained why.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
My regretful actions or words ruined my present, and I yearn for a time when all was well.
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play.
In the past, navigating the complexities of love and relationships was much simpler than it is now.
Now I need a place to hide away.
Currently, I want to retreat from the world and find a quiet, secluded location to be alone with my thoughts and feelings.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Once again, I reaffirm my belief that the past was better and long for that time.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
This line does not have a clear meaning, as it is simply a series of sounds or humming.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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